CFPN Medication Error Investigation and Patient Safety 3

Question 1

A healthcare facility's medication error rate suddenly increases after a new electronic health record (EHR) is implemented. This exemplifies which patient safety concept?

Accepted Answer

Automation bias and unintended consequences of health information technology

Answer

Increased staff awareness due to better reporting

Answer

Reduction in near-miss capture rates

Answer

Staffing inadequacy independent of the EHR

Question 2

In a wrongful death lawsuit involving a medication error, the plaintiff must demonstrate causation. What does this specifically require?

Accepted Answer

That the medication error more likely than not caused or contributed to the patient's death

Answer

Only that an error occurred regardless of its effect on outcome

Answer

That the error was intentional or grossly negligent

Answer

That the patient would have survived if a different nurse had been assigned

Question 3

What is the significance of the 'five rights' of medication administration in a forensic investigation of a medication error?

Accepted Answer

They serve as a framework to identify which specific check failed and contributed to the error

Answer

They are legally required by federal law

Answer

They only apply to controlled substance administration

Answer

They replace the need for a physician's order

Question 4

When a medication error results in patient harm, which document should be completed to report the event internally within the healthcare system?

Accepted Answer

Incident/variance report (not part of the medical record)

Answer

Addendum to the patient's medical record

Answer

Pharmacy dispensing log correction

Answer

DEA Form 106

Question 5

Which medication safety concept does the phrase 'design for failure' reflect in healthcare system engineering?

Accepted Answer

Building systems that make errors difficult to commit and easy to catch

Answer

Accepting that some errors are inevitable and untreatable

Answer

Designing medications that degrade safely if stored incorrectly

Answer

Training staff to fail gracefully under pressure

Question 6

A forensic pharmacy nurse is asked to opine on whether a nurse's deviation from the 'five rights' met the standard of care. Which reference would best establish the applicable standard?

Accepted Answer

Professional nursing standards, facility policies, and nursing literature

Answer

The nurse's personal training records only

Answer

The patient's preference for medication administration

Answer

State pharmacy practice acts exclusively